The Progress. [volume] (White Earth, Minn.) 1886-1889, 1887-11-12

certain reformatory measures
which they thought would be of
benefit to fheir people. We agreed
to call the attention of the Gov
eminent to their suggestions in
our report -; what they ask is this:
LIST. That the Indians shall have
power to elect a magistrate before
whom all petty offences against
the laws and regulations, Of the
Department shall be tried.
I'd. That a council Of admins
tration to be composed Of the
chiefs only t shall be appointed
to confer with the agent in regu-
lating the industrial affairs of the
agency.
Sd. That the charges against
individuals shall be investigated
by some person to be selected by
the chiefs in council, and duly APP
pointed by the Commissioner of
Indian affairs, the accused to have
benefit of counsel.
4th. That in allotting lands to
Indians, whenever there is an In
dian competent he. shall be ap-
pointed to discharge that duty.
9Th. That the Council of admin
istration shall have power to ap-
point three Of their mem bers to ex-
anime the accounts of their agent
before they are transmitted to the
seat of government,
9th. That all produce required
by the Government for the Indians,
shall be purchased from the Indi-
ans at the market price.
Further than this, the Commiss-
ion appear to have made no 9th
er recommendations. Every one
of the foregoing articles seem to
bear the semblance of reason and
eqity, and certainly Of much more
Importance than some that were
made a specialty-a hobby (and in
the main, devoid Of signifcance)
by the commission.
In the absence of any recognized
authority by which to try, and
punish minor ofenses, every effort
should have been made in this di.
rection by the commission.
There could possibly be no OBJ
jections to counsel of members
assisting the agent in the general
management Of agency affairs.
1t is well known, and no less a
notorious fact, that if an agent is
not favorably disposed towards
any member of this reservation,
that on his exparte statement or
complaint, such member will be
expelled from the reservation and
his home. (even tho he may hold
a patent for same) and if so in
Huenced, the Indian bureau will
grant no hearing, however igno-
miniously unjust, such an expul-
sion may have been.
Former treaties relative to the
question of expulsion, fail to vest
the power to do so solely in the
Government, or could any court
decide that said expulsion could
be legal, as the 9Th amendment to
the Constitution framed by the
white man for his protection, and
which is sacred to him, distinctly
provides that ''the accused shall
be Informed Of the nature and
cause of the accusation; to be con-
fronted with the witnesses against
him; to have compulsory process
for witnesses in his favor IF
then, no hearing is to be obtained
OF the proper government officer,
with likewise no recourse to law,
should not an Indian look to tri-
bal authority for protection or
must we acknowledge that in the
s'dim VISTA Of time outlines Of
Siberia are visible. What would
be the thought Of white man
an American citizen, were he
placed in such circumstances, or
in position an Indian finds him
self in at times. Without excep-
ton, the liberal and fairminded of
our pale faced brothers would SYM
pethize with the Indian If they un-
derstood his status. It is there
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